About Society for New Music

The Society for New Music is a collective of musicians, composers, and artists committed to fostering a lively creative environment for new music in Central New York and beyond. We bring together a flexible roster of artists from across the region to present performances featuring regional composers as well as leading national and international voices in new music. Programs such as Vision of Sound (a collaborative program of new works by regional composers and choreographers) and Silent Film (classic silent films with live performance of newly commissioned film scores) expose audiences across the region to new music. SNM also identifies and encourages emerging composers through our annual Brian Israel/Sam Pellman Prize.

Founded in 1971 by Neva Pilgrim, SNM is the oldest new music organization in New York State outside of New York City. Neva was a towering figure in the Upstate New York cultural scene as well as in new music circles, working with many of the leading composers of the late 20th century. For 53 years she built the Society for New Music and for many years hosted Fresh Ink new music program on WCNY-FM Radio. After her passing in January 2024, our team of artists dedicated to seeing the work of SNM continue have reshaped the organization as we move forward into our next chapter. We are focused on our mission of shaping the future of sound for many years to come.